There are 18 teams with records in the range of 9-3 and 7-5. Even the best are flawed, even the mediocre are capable. And then there’s the NFC South.

Still, the sands are shifting. For the first time, the top two teams in each conference remain the same. The top five teams overall are clear: Packers, Seahawks, Pats, Broncos and Eagles. Perhaps in that order.

I’m not going to hold a 26-21 loss at Lambeau Field against the NFC’s No. 1 Green Bay Packers against the Pats. But they do have to sweat that No. 1 playoff seed now. They will spend a week in San Diego to prepare for Chargers.

1

2.

9-3

Fox Ball is back. C.J. Anderson has rushed for 167 and 168 yards in back-to-back games. A convincing win against the Chiefs gives the Broncos a chance to next play the Patriots at home.

2

3.

8-4

Andrew Luck threw 5 touchdowns in a win against Washington. Luck was the first QB past 4,000 yards, but the Colts’ defense has allowed at least 27 points in six of 12 games.

4

4.

8-4

Philip Rivers was terrific in a comeback win at Baltimore, completing 34 of 45 for 383 yards and three touchdowns. But check out their remaining schedule: Patriots (9-3), Broncos (9-3) at 49ers (7-5) at Chiefs (7-5).

8

5.

8-3-1

Yes, they looked back in eeking past lowly Tampa Bay, 14-13. But it was their third consecutive road game. As the Broncos showed in St. Louis, the last of those three-game road trips are difficult.

5

6.

7-5

It’s difficult to pick from the large group of 7-5 teams. The decline of secondary coach Steve Spagnuolo since 2007 Super Bowl has been startling.

3

7.

7-5

Kyle Orton always did like his dip. He returns Sunday to Denver, where he was Broncos’ starting quarterback from 2009 until he was replaced by Tim Tebow in Game 6 of the 2011 season.

NR

8.

7-5

Their offense looked awful Monday night against the New York Jets, but luckily they were playing against Geno Smith, who was 7-of-13 for 65 yards. They’re in a decent position to get the final wild card spot.

NR

**Fell out of the top 8: Kansas City Chiefs (6), Pittsburgh Steelers (7)

Richard Sherman is inside Colin Kaepernick’s head. A Russell Wilson-Marshawn Lynch offense is the perfect complement to a championship defense, which again ranks No. 1.

2

3.

9-3

I thought the Cowboys had the best offensive line in the league until it was overpowered by Fletcher Cox and the Eagles’ front on Thanksgiving.

4

4.

8-4

They whipped the sinking ship that is the Chicago Bears for their second Thanksgiving win in a row after losing their previous nine. They should beat up on Tampa Bay at home this week.

7

5.

8-4

Back-to-back Thursday games? A weak Bears defense should allow for Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray and the Cowboys’ offensive line to regain confidence for the stretch run.

3

6.

9-3

There was suspicion two weeks ago this was the worst 9-1 team in the league. Suspicion has been confirmed. There’s just not enough offense here. They desperately need to beat the Chiefs at home in a battle of fading playoff contenders.

5

7.

7-5

Colin Kaepernick still seems raw and inaccurate as a pocket passer. The divide between upstairs management and the coaching staff widens after Trent Baalke’s daughter tweets, “(offensive coordinator) Greg Roman can take a hike … the 49ers don’t want you no more.”

6

8.

5-7

In frigid conditions, Teddy Bridgewater was a high school-like 15-of-21 for 138 yards, but that was plenty thanks to two touchdowns off blocked punts against woeful Carolina.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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